Taskforce Erebus: NSW cops gain new powers to kick in drug offenders’ doors

Police have gained sweeping new powers to knock down the doors of convicted drug dealers without a warrant in a trial targeting four areas across NSW.

NSW police have sweeping new powers to knock down the doors of convicted drug dealers without a warrant in a trial targeting four areas across the state including Sydney's south- west.

Police can now apply to issue a Drug Supply Prohibition Order on a person if they have been convicted of a “serious drug offence” in the past 10 years.

They can then enter any homes, cars, planes and boats they are in and can stop them in the street to search them without a warrant.

The legislation has been two years in the making and came into effect on Monday. It is being piloted in the Bankstown Police Area Command, the Orana Command in the mid-west and the Hunter Valley, Coffs Harbour and Clarence Police Districts in the north.

It is expected a new task force set up amid Sydney’s gangland wars will use the orders as well as established Firearm Prohibition Orders (FPOs).

New police powers two years in the making will allow cops to stop drug dealers without a warrant. Picture: Matrix

“These unprecedented powers will allow police to detain convicted drug dealers, as well as search their homes, businesses and vehicles at any time without a warrant,” said Deputy Premier and Police Minister Paul Toole.

“These new police powers are another step forward for the newly formed Taskforce Erebus and the expanded Raptor Squad to help police disrupt these organised criminal networks and attack at the very heart of their business model,” he said.

“The message to Sydney’s underworld couldn’t be clearer – police will be in your face more than ever, disrupting your lives every second of the day. These criminals will be so fed up of the knocks at the door, they will have to consider a new path and if not, they can expect to be locked up for a long time,” Mr Toole said.

The Daily Telegraph understands a number of lawyers have already been approached by clients in the underworld fearful they will be targeted for the new orders.

“They have seen people who are subject to Firearm Prohibition Orders and how police can pull them over any time in their car or walking down the street and can see this will open a whole new way cops can harass them,” said one lawyer.

Police Minister Paul Toole and NSW Police Force Commissioner Karen Webb. The new powers apparently already have underworld figures fearful. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

Police regularly use FPOs, which have been in force for several years, to let criminals know they are on their radar.

An application for a drug supply prohibition order can be made by applying for an order to an authorised magistrate by a police officer against an ‘eligible person’ and once granted will allow them to search the homes, vehicles and body search convicted drug dealers at any time without multiple court warrants, if police have reasonable grounds to suspect there is evidence of drug-related crime.

Police said there are protocols to be followed before they can apply for an order, including it being signed off by a superintendent or higher to authorise the application.